The Founding of The NASWA Resort: Jim and Fannie Salta’s Legacy of Hospitality
By naswa_admin March 4, 2025 In 1934, Jim and Fannie Salta, immigrants from the island of Lesbos, Greece, stood on a rocky hillside near Weirs Beach, New Hampshire, and made a discovery that would change their lives forever. Amidst the rugged landscape, they found a crystal-clear natural spring. The water, tested at 100% purity, felt like a blessing—a promise of new beginnings in their adopted homeland. Inspired by this serendipitous find, they purchased the property and launched the Natural Spring Water Company, laying the first stones of what would become The NASWA Resort.
Jim and Fannie were no strangers to hard work. They opened a humble general store, selling not only spring water but also Fannie’s famous homemade baked beans, cooked in an outdoor oven. On Saturdays, a line of eager customers stretched down the boulevard, all waiting for a taste of her franks and beans supper. The Saltas had an innate gift for hospitality—an extension of the Greek tradition of ‘philoxenia,’ which means treating strangers as friends. Their warm welcome and home-cooked meals made visitors feel like they were part of the family.
As the stream of travelers passing through Weirs Beach grew, so did the need for accommodations. Seeing an opportunity, Jim and Fannie built five one-room cabins in 1935, christening them the NASWA Spring Water Cabins. Each cabin was a cozy haven, offering shelter and a sense of belonging to weary travelers. By 1938, they had expanded to nine cottages, each reflecting the Saltas’ philosophy of creating not just a place to stay but a home away from home.
However, in September 1938, tragedy struck. The infamous Hurricane of 1938—the only hurricane to significantly impact New England—swept through the area, reducing all nine cottages to rubble. Jim and Fannie stood amid the wreckage of their dreams, but their spirit remained unbroken. With determination and resilience, they rebuilt. Eleven new cottages rose on the site, this time equipped with modern amenities like plumbing and showers. Their hard work paid off, as guests were delighted by the enhanced comfort and the same heartfelt hospitality they had come to love.
In the 1940s, the Saltas took a bold step, acquiring a prized waterfront parcel along Lake Winnipesaukee. Originally the site of an old tonic bottling factory, the overgrown lot was transformed into a vibrant lakeside retreat. Jim constructed 11 new cottages with stunning lake views, blending natural beauty with the hospitality for which The NASWA was becoming known. This marked the beginning of the resort’s transformation into a true destination, where families could enjoy the lake, create memories, and feel the warmth of Greek ‘philoxenia’.
Their daughter, Hope Salta, and her husband, Peter Makris, would eventually join the family business, expanding it even further. But it was Jim and Fannie who laid the foundation, not only building structures but also fostering a culture of kindness and community. They raised their children on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, instilling in them the same values of hard work, generosity, and genuine care for others.
For Jim and Fannie, The NASWA was never just about business—it was a labor of love. They believed that every guest should be treated like family, a philosophy that continues to define The NASWA experience today. Their legacy lives on, not only through the resort’s continued success but also in the countless lives they touched. Generations of visitors still return, drawn by the same sense of welcome and belonging that Jim and Fannie created nearly 90 years ago.
Their story is a testament to the power of vision, resilience, and love. It is a reminder that from the most modest beginnings, with a bit of faith and a lot of heart, extraordinary things can grow. The NASWA Resort is more than a destination—it is the living legacy of Jim and Fannie Salta, a place where the spirit of hospitality shines as brightly as ever.
